I entered into college with what I thought was a clear career path. I was surrounded by friends and family who had pretty serious professional plans—to be doctors and lawyers and geologists—and I followed suit, with my eye on mechanical engineering. But when my Pop died in my first year, I found myself, at age 19, at a crossroads. My world was unraveling, and I no longer knew what I wanted to do with my life.

That juncture proved pivotal for me because it forced me to think about what I really wanted to study and how I wanted to make my way in the world. What I knew was that l loved team sports and the spirit of group efforts. I wanted to be part of something bigger, to take a different path.